Ekpo: Home Eagles Must Improve Before CHAN Q/Final Vs Angola

By James Agberebi: Former Nigeria international Friday Ekpo has stated that the home-based Super Eagles must expect a very difficult game against Angola in the quarter-finals at the ongoing Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.

Angola was confirmed as Nigeria’s opponents in the quarter-final which comes up on Sunday in Tangier following their 0-0 draw against Congo on Wednesday in Group D.

The home Eagles topped Group C after defeating already eliminated Equatorial Guinea 3-1 in their last group game on Tuesday.

Reacting to the quarter-final pairings, Ekpo who was in the Super Eagles that held Angola to a 2-2 away draw in 1989 during the qualifiers for the 1990 World Cup, urged the Home Eagles improve in their play.

“First and foremost, congratulations to the team for doing us proud and topping their group,” the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal winner told Completesportsnigeria.com.

“Having said that, if they (Home Eagles) really want to go past the Angolans, they must up their game. They must do better than what they did in their last two games because the Angolans are not pushovers, they fight to the last.

“In their last group game (against Congo), they wanted to win the game but it didn’t work out for them.”

The former Iwuanyanwu Nationale star added in a chat with CSN: “I would want our players to start the game according to how the coach has planned it. They should move the ball quickly. I want to see us do more better, get to the semi-final and even lifting the cup.

“If you look at the Moroccans and the Zambians, they play better, even the Libyans too. We all saw how they qualified for the quarter-finals, they fought until they got the goal against Rwanda, unfortunately it is difficult to see that in our team.”